tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167495212024-03-04T22:46:36.432-06:00In the Middle-of-Somewhereby "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-42733658708156962282012-05-22T21:49:00.001-05:002012-05-22T21:50:32.502-05:00Day 9 - Going RawWhat a fun day this has been! Started out with a play-date with Maria. It's good to find a crafty-friend! We are finding we have many hobbies in common...gotta love that. She was sweet enough (and talented enough) to make me a smoothie lunch-to-go. Then I was off to the Jefferson County Travel Clinic for the rest of my immunizations for the missions trip.<br />
<br />
I had a couple of hours between the travel clinic and my evening shift at work, so got caught up on some paperwork, email, and a few phone calls (until my battery died...sigh). Then I was off to work to teach a sweet little 10 yr old girl how to sew a pair of shorts. She is so fun to teach. When I asked her about the pillowcase she made in our last session she told me that she not only has it on her pillow, <i>but</i> ... she also taught her mom how to make one too! Isn't that adorable? What teacher wouldn't love that?!<br />
<br />
Dilema of the day - Found out today that the house next door will officially go on the "market" ... owner called and offered it to us for $25k ... man ... we were <i>so not</i> going to buy <i>another</i> house (3 extra will be about 2 more than we planned...at least for this year). What to do? What to do? Prayers for wisdom please.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">Breakfast smoothie:</span></b><br />
Bananas<br />
Apples<br />
Carrots<br />
Celery<br />
Honeydew<br />
Frozen grapes<br />
Frozen cherries<br />
Hemp protein<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">Lunch smoothie </span></b>... Maria's yummy recipe (sorry, I can't remember what all went in, but it was FAB!)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Dinner:</b></span><br />
It's late (9:43) and I can't eat because I am taking a "live-virus" immunization capsule (1 every other day for 8 days) and can't eat for an hour before and an hour after ... waiting ... getting pow'rful hungry! Hungry I tell ya!<br />
<br />
<br />by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-83111132803998491192012-05-21T20:16:00.003-05:002012-05-21T20:35:26.364-05:00Day 8 - Going RawBusy day!<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Gym</li>
<li>Shop to replenish fresh food stash</li>
<li>Finish sample for Jul-Aug Sewing 201 class</li>
<li>Finish three skirts for the upcoming missions trip</li>
<li>Pack suitcase for said missions trip</li>
<li>Make pair of shorts for William</li>
<li>Round up pattern for tomorrow's playdate with Maria L</li>
<li>Nap in the sunshine ... hey! it was important!</li>
</ul>
<div>
Weight-in reveals 4 pounds lost over the past 7 days ... now that is nice. I'll happily accept slow, steady loss especially if I'm feeling good all the while and not experiencing hunger ... WOOT WOOT!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Breakfast:</div>
<div>
We had a breakfast wrap...a little treat for Mr (and me) for a week of cooperation.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Lunch smoothie:</div>
<div>
Banana</div>
<div>
Apple</div>
<div>
carrots</div>
<div>
celery</div>
<div>
spinach</div>
<div>
Key limes</div>
<div>
fresh pineapple (yummo!)</div>
<div>
Hemp protein</div>
<div>
blueberries</div>
<div>
strawberries</div>
<div>
spirulina (3 tablets)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Dinner smoothie/cold soup:</div>
<div>
carrots</div>
<div>
roma tomatoes</div>
<div>
cucumbers</div>
<div>
celery</div>
<div>
onion</div>
<div>
sweet baby bell peppers</div>
<div>
garlic salt</div>
<div>
hot sauce</div>
<div>
avacado</div>
<div>
ice cubes</div>
<div>
DELICIOUS! Even the Mr. is loving this one! He said it tastes "...like Wisconsin Cheese Soup w/o the cheese." I think what he means is that it is a very good summer cold tomato soup! We will definitely be having this one again. Thanks to my sister Sara for the veggie suggestions!</div>by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-81858015105275800542012-05-20T20:33:00.000-05:002012-05-21T20:36:40.515-05:00Day 7 - Going RawSunday! Sundays are very busy days for us. Church service at 9 so we leave home at 8. After church we have small group (Sunday School for grown ups ... y'know!) which we normally get done with around 1. Then we generally drive over to Costco and have a pizza lunch before doing our grocery shopping for the week. By the time we get home it's almost always after 3:30 or 4:00.<br />
<br />
This week we had to leave small group early so I could get to work. We stopped briefly to grab a bite for lunch. Given our rush, we just wen to ... man ... do I DARE put the truth here, in plain sight for all to see ... or just leave that part out ... hum ... what to do, what to do ...<br />
<br />
I had classes to teach at JoAnns: a sewing 101 class for three gals from 1-3:30, followed by a sewing 103 class (basic skirt) for two gals from 4-7:00. Of course there's always clean-up to be done, paperwork to be filed, and getting out of the store (there's a process for that too!) ... got home at 9 ... long day!<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">Breakfast smoothie:</span></b><br />
Bananas<br />
Lemons<br />
Apples<br />
Strawberries<br />
spinach<br />
Hemp protein powder<br />
spirulina<br />
carrots<br />
celery<br />
<br />
Lunch:<br />
McDonalds (burger w/half the bun and a soda...BAD, ay? sigh...no recriminations...it is what it is...)<br />
<br />
Dinner:<br />
Not sure what Mr had, but I ate some celery sticks with raw peanuts butter when I got home.<br />
<br />
NOT our best "food day" by far, but we aren't going to beat ourselves up, just moving on to the next day. Trying to be kind while also being wiser on our overall eating habits.by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-63639876394286403382012-05-19T23:30:00.000-05:002012-05-20T05:41:32.845-05:00Day 6 - Going RawToday is a work day. I had a serger class from 9 to noon. Then a sewing social from 1 to 3 ... ended up taking until 4:30 (had some "machine" issues and just couldn't send them home w/o resolving them ... y'know ... it's me ... I have to "finish" what I've started.)<br />
<br />
Sara (my sister) called while I was on my way home ... we had an awesome, long chat. She's doing green smoothies, too, so we shared our experiences and some recipe tips. Her Mr. isn't eating (drinking?) them, so she's been doing the veggie-based smoothies longer and has some great tips I'll be trying out! Yay! She recommended that I try a blend of:<br />
Spinach<br />
Celery (1 stalk)<br />
Carrots (1)<br />
Red Cabbage (small wedge)<br />
Ginger (small bit)<br />
Garlic (powder ... wondering if a bit of raw garlic would work?)<br />
Tomato (lots)<br />
Bell Pepper (2" strip)<br />
Onion (small bit)<br />
Mrs Dash-Spicy (I'm wondering about a small bit of fresh Habenaro, instead? LOVE that stuff!)<br />
Kale (she loves the reds ... I need to get to Whole Foods!)<br />
Flax<br />
Spirunlina (3 tablets)<br />
<br />
I think I'll make enough for <i>just me</i> and then let Mr. taste it.<i> If</i> he decides he can deal with the absence of <i>fruit-sweetness</i> then he can have some the next meal. Good thing this 1980s kitchen has the big-ish peninsula ... I am going to need <i>room</i> for all that produce and fruit to be processed every time we get hungry!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Speaking of <i>hungry</i> </span>... I'm noticing that we haven't been getting <i>"the munchies"</i> ... nice! I was worried that we would be getting too hungry between "meals" so adding the Hemp Protein was a way to make the full-feeling <i>last</i>. I've also been swallowing 5 spirulina tablets at breakfast and lunch. Have yet to feel any-kind-of-hungry! In fact, Sara and I were talking about how <i>long</i> it takes us to finish our meal smoothies. Seriously ... we can nurse that thing for the <i>better part of an hour</i> ... and that is <i>not</i> because of flavor ... these things are DELICIOUS (well ... esp. the ones I've been having because Mr. <i>only</i> wants the sweet ones!) ... it's just that it is <i>very satisfying</i>. The <i>"gobble-it-up"</i> drive isn't there. Weird. Nice! I've been <i>gobbling</i> far too long.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><i>Drinking</i></span> ... now that got your attention, didn't it? I am happily not drinking coffee ... six days now. The amazing thing is that I'm not having issues with energy. In the past, when I've quit, I have a struggle with low-energy. Last winter I used Shaklee's CorEnergy to help ... it <i>rocked</i>! Unfortunately when I tried to order some last week they were unable to ship because they are changing the recipe. I was disappointed. Fortunately the smoothies seem to be providing <i>something</i> helpful for energy. How awesome is that?!<br />
<br />
Mr. has reduced his intact of <i>diet coke</i> (yeah...I know...it's <i>ubber bad</i> for him...have told him, others have told him, he's read research, ya-de-ya-da-ya-da ... he's an addict with all the symptoms and won't face it ... but ... who knows ... perhaps after spending the rest of the summer on Green Smoothies he'll see the light?) The first two days of this experiment he didn't have any ... not sure why, but happy. Now it appears to me that he's only had 2 each day ... that is an improvement!<br />
<br />
We've both been drinking filtered water (love our Shaklee water filter!) especially since we've been going to the gym! The trainer ran some tests on us when we started. Turns out our body-water-content was below 50% ... <b>yikes</b>! <i>No wonder we have issues</i> ... amazing that we don't have <i>more</i>, in fact! He told us to take our body weight, divide it by 2, then drink that many ounces of water every day. I told him <i>that</i> would be a really good idea <i>after</i> I lose 40 pounds! Of course, I was making a joke, but I was seriously thinking I would be spending my entire day in the bathroom. Turns out <i>that</i> is not the case ... not sure where it's all going ... sweat? Ha!<br />
<br />
Enough! Mr. said it looks like I'm writing "an awful lot" ... so maybe I'll end here?<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">Breakfast smoothie:</span></b><br />
Banana<br />
Lemon<br />
Apple<br />
Strawberries (frozen)<br />
Key Limes (juice from 5)<br />
Celery<br />
Carrots<br />
Mango<br />
Spinach<br />
Maca<br />
Hemp Protien<br />
(nice and sweet...just like the Mr likes it...surprised?)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Lunch smoothie:</b></span><br />
I had the left-overs from yesterday's lunch smoothie (stored nicely, probably not optimal, but...)<br />
Not sure what Mr. did (probably involved a burger joint?) as I was at work<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">Dinner:</span></b><br />
No smoothie ... I was on the phone with sister until after 8:30pm ... Yay! I chose to have some<br />
celery sticks with that yummy raw peanut butter ... delish.<br />
Mr. grilled us some Flounder and he had a salad with his.<br />
<br />
<br />by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-28068128668907094352012-05-18T23:30:00.000-05:002012-05-21T20:39:52.446-05:00Day 5 - Going Raw<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">NOTE: I'm post-date posting this. Does that make sense? Day 5 was really on Thursday, May 18. Life was just moving too fast for me the past couple of days! So, rather than skipping it I'm just getting my notes and posting this after-the-fact.</span><br />
<br />
YAY! My caffeine-addiction headaches are better! Washeew! My gut is "bloated" ... guessing it's from not keeping the veggie content equal to the fruit content ... need to move more into the veggie-based smoothie, less fruit. Just been hesitant since the Mr. has a definite distain for anything not sweet ... sigh ... really want to keep him going on this. Guess I'll be making two batches ... I can do it, right? That's totally going to cut into my crafty time ... spending more time in the kitchen ... awwww maaaaan (as our grand-daughter would say!) But, I'll suck it up and do it ... the reward in the end will be worth it!<br />
<br />
After posting the link to the free movie, <a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/289122/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead" target="_blank">Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead</a>, on my Facebook wall a friend from Iowa reposted it for one of our Homeschool-Contacts, <a href="http://networkedblogs.com/xMD5C" target="_blank">Terri Camp</a>. Turns out Terri is just finishing a <a href="http://www.jointhereboot.com/index.php?lang=en" target="_blank">30-day Reboot</a>! That has been very inspiring for some reason. Just having someone I know, who's willing to share her experience with this ... has inspired me.<br />
<br />
So, today was a <i>fun</i> day ... I'm not working, not teaching, not running errands, a no <i>to-do </i>kind of day. Maria L is coming over for a crafty-day. It may sound crazy, but I haven't "<i>had a friend over</i>" since we moved here! YIKES! Now that I <i>wrote that down</i> ... it really sounds crazy! I'm a social-girl ... how <i>did</i> that happen? We toured the yard, she shared lots of great landscaping and gardening ideas and enthusiasm (<i>where</i> has <i>my</i> love for all that gone? probably just in hibernation ... yeah ... I'm sure that's it ... right?) Then we had a Green Smoothie lunch and got started crafting. We were making a pillowcase sundress for her grand-daughter on the serger. It turned out adorable ... I can't wait to see a picture of it in use!<br />
<br />
Turns out I'm not the only one with a bloat-y belly from smoothie meal-replacements. Maria has the same issue. We got a good laugh out of our bellie-antics! Might as well, ay? I am sure I <i>totally</i> impressed her when I was standing at my cutting table and stuck my belly out and then <i>layed it </i>on the table (nice word-picture right there, ay?)! Oh yeah! <i>That's Cool!</i> I'll admit I was "sticking it out" (and my <i>close friends</i> all know I can totally make it look like a prego belly, right?) It's good to laugh at yourself ... and laugh we did. Mr. just doesn't get <i>that</i> sense of humor ... that's why we need girl-friends!<br />
<br />
After Maria left, we called Paul to see how the popsicle shop was doing ... they passed health inspection, so the popsicle-making was going full-speed-ahead! They are going to have their carts hit the streets of Birmingham tomorrow morning! Talk about great timing ... lots of farmer's markets on saturday! We hopped on the motorcycle and headed into the city to see if we could help. <i>Lucky thing</i>, too! Turns out they <i>needed</i> help testing out some of the flavors.<br />
<br />
What?<br />
<br />
You don't believe me? Fine ... they <i>let</i> us taste-test a couple ... made me <i>real glad</i> we'd been eating healthy so we didn't have to feel <i>bad</i> about enjoying a <i>treat</i>.<br />
<br />
End of a long, very nice, day! So, here's a recap of our "meals" for today:<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">Breakfast smoothie:</span></b><br />
Banana<br />
Lemon<br />
Apples<br />
Spinach (LOTS! 2 fists full for each of us!) <br />
<div>
Hemp protein powder (has Omega-3s...excellent!)</div>
<div>
Maca</div>
<div>
Blueberries, frozen</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">Lunch smoothie:</span></b></div>
<div>
Blueberries</div>
<div>
Lemon</div>
<div>
Key Limes (just the juice)</div>
<div>
Apple</div>
<div>
Banana</div>
<div>
Cherries, frozen</div>
<div>
Celery</div>
<div>
Carrots</div>
<div>
Spinach (again, LOTS!)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">Dinner:</span></b></div>
<div>
It got late (the drive into the city and all...see above) so we went to Whataburger (it's okay to relax when it's call for!) and ate a burger (minus half the bun). MR was very happy to have "food" for a change. He cracks me up! The nice thing is ... he's happy to continue on the smoothie adventure in the morning. No worries. Life is good.</div>by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-74217262255863836332012-05-17T23:28:00.001-05:002012-05-17T23:28:27.933-05:00Day 4 - Going RawToday was crazy! We both totally missed out on breakfast ... we got up and got going on our to-do list and somehow managed to "forget" breakfast ... not sure HOW that is possible! Definitely not a good idea when trying to be healthy ... sigh.<br />
<br />
I worked at JoAnn's today and had some errands I needed to run prior to work, so after our lunch smoothies I headed out, leaving Bruce in the midst of a small electrical project at the house. He is installing a ceiling fan/light in the living room and swapping out the old ceiling fan/light in our bedroom. Started the job yesterday, but ran into some issues and ended up using his project time at Lowe's finding solutions.<br />
<br />
Things must have gone well, because I walked in and ... voila! The living room has a nice breeze coming from the new fixture! When I'm done with this post I'll be off to the bedroom to see how that one turned out ... hoping this means we'll be able to keep the air conditioner off even longer!<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Breakfast smoothie</span></b>:<br />
(we missed breakfast...see above)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Lunch smoothie:</b></span><br />
1 Mango<br />
1 Banana<br />
1 Lemon<br />
1 cup frozen cherries (pitted)<br />
1 apple (red delicious)<br />
4 tblsp Hemp protein powder<br />
Maca, raw (powder)<br />
2 cups baby spinach<br />
Yummo!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Supper smoothie:</b></span><br />
same as lunch, I just made a double batch so I could bring one along. It stored in the work frig much better than I'd dared to hope! Good to know! I also had some celery sticks and 1/4 c raw peanut "butter" ... it helped with my munchies.by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-63281298868154322822012-05-16T22:45:00.001-05:002012-05-16T22:45:49.551-05:00Day 3 - Going RawWe've been going to the gym every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday since January, so today was GYM DAY. We were there by 6:45am so didn't eat our smoothie until we got back home. Talk about HUNGRY!<br />
<br />
<br />
Today we had an event for Maya (school program) that included a buffet ... we both did GREAT! We only ate raw veggies (and I think Bruce had a few grapes ... talk about will-power! There were some very delicious looking bars and cookies on that spread!<br />
<br />
After the event we had to stop by church ... MERCY! All the restaurants were grilling meats and putting all kinds of tempting smells out into the public ... we were on the motorcycle so our bellies were going crazy! Now we know ... Birmingham smells GOOD around lunchtime!<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Breakfast Smoothie</b></span>:<br />
Juice from 3 key limes<br />
apple<br />
banana<br />
celery (2 stalks)<br />
carrots (2)<br />
Hemp (4 tblsp)<br />
YUMMO!<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Lunch</span></b>:<br />
Flounder on the grill (no coating, no seasoning...just fish), and an organic spring mix/spinach salad with a bit of Feta Cheese, sliced almonds, and some vinegar and olive oil sprinkled on to it.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Dinner</span></b>:<br />
I had to work, so brought some celery, raw ground peanuts ("butter"!), and an apple. Took some Spirulina to help with hunger ... it helped! Bruce grilled a piece of ham steak for himself.<br />
<br />
While we didn't do only smoothies, we both feel successful given the challenges in front of us today!<br />
<br />
<br />by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-58173615121856390492012-05-15T07:38:00.001-05:002012-05-15T19:37:48.004-05:00Day 2 - Going RAWThis morning I've signed-up at Reboot, the official site for the Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead (the movie) community. I am making smoothies rather than juice (at least until I can find the moving box that has my juicer!) but think I like the idea of using their recipes.<br />
<br />
Yesterday we made a trip to our local Health Food Store ... what a wonderful place!!!! We found Maca (supplement that helps with energy ... just sprinkle in the smoothie), coconut water, and natural peanut butter (they MADE the peanut butter while we watched! yummo! I know I <i>can</i> make it in the VitaMix, but ... <i>hey</i> ... that thing is going to get a <i>real work-out</i> the way it is!)<br />
<br />
I woke up this morning with a headache ... <i>detoxing side-effect I suspect</i> ... am going to use a pain reliever ... I hate having to do that, normally I would just tough it out, but today I'll just fight one battle (the desire to sink my teeth into something <i>off</i> my food list for the day).<br />
<br />
Interestingly, hubby is game to do the <i>smoothie-thing (his words)</i> this morning ... it might <i>help</i> that breakfast is a fruit-based smoothie?! He's such a boy!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Breakfast smoothie</b></span><br />
Spinach (see a trend here...woke up this morning worrying that my skin would be orange!)<br />
Banana<br />
Strawberries<br />
Blueberries<br />
Apple<br />
Coconut water<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Lunch smoothie</span></b><br />
Spinach<br />
Banana<br />
Blueberry<br />
Celery<br />
Maca<br />
Natural Honey<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Dinner smoothie</b></span><br />
Organic Spring Mix lettuce<br />
Banana<br />
Apple<br />
Mango<br />
Hemp protein<br />
Carrots<br />
Celery<br />
<br />
Today I was DEFINITELY wanting some of the old "bad" foods ... had to keep busy to avoid thinking about it. Didn't take the aspirin ... decided to just tough it out. Need to figure out some sort of snacks as I got hungry a few times during the day.by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-3301409417717401322012-05-14T18:34:00.002-05:002012-05-14T18:57:59.086-05:00Day 1 - Going Raw<i>WHAT in the world is</i>, "<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Going Raw</b></span>"?<br />
<br />
Eating only raw foods ... yep ... RAW! No steaming, baking, frying, or grilling. You take your collection of raw foods, put them in your blender (VitaMix, in my case) or in a juicer (I have one, but I like the bulk/fiber you get w/VitaMix), then drink the resulting smoothie/juice.<br />
<br />
Today was our first day of <span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Going Raw</b></span>. All three meals.<br />
<br />
For <span style="color: #274e13;">breakfast</span> today we had a blend of<br />
strawberries (frozen),<br />
bananas,<br />
red grapes,<br />
flax seed, and<br />
spinach (lots!)<br />
raw honey. It was DELICIOUS!<br />
<br />
For <span style="color: #274e13;">lunch ... more fruit</span><br />
strawberries (frozen),<br />
mangos,<br />
bananas,<br />
lemon,<br />
spinach (again...lots!)<br />
flax seed. Again, it was DELICIOUS!<br />
<br />
For <span style="color: #274e13;">supper</span> I made a veggie blend:<br />
carrots,<br />
celery,<br />
lemon,<br />
spinach (yep...again),<br />
apple,<br />
flax seed. <br />
THIS TIME...our taste buds needed to make a bit of an adjustment as it wasn't "sweet" like the smoothies we'd had earlier! I think it has a "fresh" flavor, but <i>hubby</i> said ... YUK! I DON'T LIKE THIS ONE! (<i>Even after I warned him that it would NOT be sweet...to expect 'veggie' flavors ... boys!) </i>My smoothie is going down as easily as the others, but he is complaining that his is "growing" in his cup and he can't possibly finish it ... wimpy! He grabbed a ham steak, fired up his grill and put the rest of his smoothie in the frig (do you think he's expecting it to taste better by tomorrow?)<br />
<br />
I am hoping to keep up the RAW food plan for at least 10 days, and <i>maybe</i> ... just <i>maybe</i> until June 2 (when we leave the country on a mission trip).<br />
<br />
My goals:<br />
Improve energy levels<br />
Lose my "carb belly"<br />
Eliminate gut aches<br />
<br />
I have decided to use this old blog of mine to document the process!<br />
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What precipitated this effort? My sister, Sara, sent me the link to the movie on Hulu, "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" by Joe Cross. After watching the movie, I decided I would take the challenge! Eat raw-food smoothies (or juices if you prefer) for an extended period of time.<br />
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So ... here goes!by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-70477702013139623282010-05-05T18:05:00.002-05:002010-05-27T19:12:30.773-05:00<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Life as a Road Warrior</b></span><br />
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I may as well admit it ... I am a Road Warrior! Not that I set out to be one, but there was one thing and then another ... soon enough I was a full-fledged member of the million mile club ... an offical <i><b>Road Warrior</b></i>.<br />
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My first "move" <i>away from home (my hometown)</i> involved a town <i>60</i> miles away. I was so afraid of traveling <i>that far</i> that I made it a practice to know <i>exactly</i> which mile markers I was between ... you know ... <i>just in case ... there's just no telling what could happen to someone traveling so far</i>! Then I moved 8 hours from <i>home</i> ... catapulting my traveling life into high-gear (a term my mother likes to use when she needs extra emphasis for something). Years later, a move from Iowa to Indianapolis stepped things up a few more notches! Then there was the year when I stayed in Indy (until our home sold) while Bruce and Katy got our life in northwest Iowa started (trust me ... there were lots of trips that year!) After I joined them, I worked as a consultant for a company 2 and a half hours from Storm Lake ... now <i>THAT</i> was a commute! These days we have children (who, by the way, have <i>our</i> grandchildren!) living on each of the US coastlines and one holdout still in the midwest ... living in a vehicle has managed to become a way-of-life!<br />
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I tend to be a singularly-focused person ... getting so wrapped up <i>in the moment</i> (or task-at-hand) that I lose track of all else. Recently I got to thinking about how this attribute has created some interesting (and scary) moments along the path to the Road Warrior Club!<br />
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My sister, Sandy, once rode with me on the way <i>back home</i> many years ago. After picking her up in LeSueur, MN, I focused so much on our chit-chat while I was driving that <i>eventually</i> I had to ask <i>her</i> if <i>she</i> knew the name of the town we were approaching (it was after midnight...so I couldn't use any landmarks to try and guess, and obviously I hadn't been reading signs). She thought I was kidding because we were only 5 miles from mom's house! How can you<i> not know </i>you are<i> approaching your destination?</i> Well, it's easy ... if you are me!<br />
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On one of my trips from Storm Lake to Indianapolis the year we first bought the acreage ... I found myself reading a sign for Indiana's Exit 4 (our favorite exit for gas and refreshments along the I-74 route). The <i>problem</i> was ... the <i>last</i> stop I'd paid any attention to was the <i>I-80 Truck Stop</i> in <i>Davenport, Iowa.</i> My auto-pilot was apparently ON through the <i>entire state</i> of Illinois! You can bet I was thankful I hadn't run out of gas!<br />
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Then there's the trip north from Storm Lake to Alexandria (MN) one year when they were tearing up Hwy 71 and toally <i>replacing</i> the road (that means they totally remove everything ... all the way down past the road bed!) ... I'd gotten so engrossed in a conversation with my mother-in-law (the co-pilot) that I simply went <i>around</i> barracades were meant to protect drivers from the dangers of a "missing" road! I didn't pay much attention to the decreasing quality of the road <i>until</i> it was <i>impossible</i> to <i>not notice</i>, "My goodness! This road is crazy bad!" I said. To which, my rider replied, "Yep. That's probably because <i>way back there</i> you went around a sign that said, <i>Road Closed</i>!"<br />
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I don't know, but I'm guessing that the knowledge of these events is largely behind the fact that my sweetie doesn't ask me to be a "relief-driver" on our recent long trips to Birmingham? What do you think?by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-90915974243212758582010-05-03T17:45:00.006-05:002010-05-27T18:04:23.287-05:00<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Where DOES the time go?</b></span><br />
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Today is our 25th Wedding Anniversary ... wow ... who would have thought so many years could fly by so quickly? Even worse is that I (ME!) can even say that! I'm starting to sound more and more like my Grama! Oh me Oh my!<br />
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I made this "card" for my sweetie ... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikT_2Irx7SPmaxCUYmQwaCpBUCOt3a8_4QKEZjDTABfOCUk2zuv3cEa1ydh_WQ6bCLlmsN6p850YTwY3wLXhDYlETGF51SckvWLnK0V3oAtVEpAwx2Vn9nShalD385dD_cvkmc/s1600/Happy+Anniversary+4x6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikT_2Irx7SPmaxCUYmQwaCpBUCOt3a8_4QKEZjDTABfOCUk2zuv3cEa1ydh_WQ6bCLlmsN6p850YTwY3wLXhDYlETGF51SckvWLnK0V3oAtVEpAwx2Vn9nShalD385dD_cvkmc/s400/Happy+Anniversary+4x6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos:</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bruce and I with The Fabulous Mr Elijah Brown on our recent visit to Birmingham (Left)</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shoppers at the auction looking at the stamping/scrapbooking supplies (Top Right)</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fire pit at the north end of garden with a couple waiting for woodburner or Cub Cadet mower to be sold. (Bottom Right)</span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lots to do ... heading up to my hometown for the weekend! We have a family baby shower for Jason & Paula (my nephew and his wife) ... pretty exciting! I'm happy to have one last chance to make the pilgramage from Storm Lake to Alexandria and plan to take the time to stop along the way and take photos of some of my favorite scenes!</span> </span><br />
As Red Green would say, "Stay safe ... Keep it between the lines!"by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-86519696844980286992010-05-01T23:10:00.001-05:002010-05-06T05:32:56.778-05:00<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Almost</i> Home</span></b><br />
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Our drive home is getting interesting. We <i>pushed</i> ourselves to drive as far as Memphis, TN today. Using my little Verizon MiFi connection and the Mac laptop I tried to locate a motel that wasn't charging an arm-and-a-leg for a room tonight (goodness knows we need <i>all</i> of our limbs, as rickety as they are!) ... to no avail. So Bruce decides to find a WalMart, buy a clearance blanket and just sleep in the Tahoe (isn't he romantic? Gotta love my frugal little Norweign!)<br />
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After some heated debate about how to get off the freeway and over to that WalMart on our left ... we find a comforter on clearance (imagine that! at WalMart? really? ... bwahhahhah) and eating a bad-for-you-and-the-world-McBurger we discovered every checkout station was at least 6 people deep. What in the world was going on? It's 9 p.m. Why would there be so many people at WalMart with their carts packed full rushing the checkout? Bruce cleverly decides to checkout in the jewelry department (he might be frugal, but he's also clever!) I decide to ask a store clerk why the place is packed. She tells me there's bad weather coming and folks are stocking-up.<br />
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Curious, we decide to hustle back to the Tahoe and check out the NOAA website's Doppler ... sure enough! There wass a severe weather warning covering the midwest ... <b>all of it</b> ... from Texas to Memphis, Tennessee to St Louis, Missouri to Des Moines, Iowa to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Well! That pretty much <i>covers our path home</i>! YIKES! We decided, tired or not, we'd better skeedaddle!<br />
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About 2-3 hours down the road we began encountering some rain and even more wind than before. Forecast was calling for winds up to 75 mph, softball sized hail, and possibility of tornadoes. Bruce was way past tired and from the looks of the Doppler we were north of one tornado warning and south of another ... a "sweet spot" so to speak. It seemed like a good time to pull of the freeway and see if he could find cover (didn't want to have hail <i>damage</i> the Tahoe or the nice enclosed trailer he just got.)<br />
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This is where we begin to see God's hand covering us in a tangible way (as if getting us out of Memphis before it flooded wasn't enough)! At the end of the exit ramp guess what we found!?! A vacant BP gas station ... you know what they have don't you? BIG, strong awnings (where the gas pumps had been)! Woohoo! Bruce pulled in so the entire rig was under cover and we settled in for the night under our new blanket (for those of you that don't know our family's reputation ... we are known for all the quilts we make ... if you are in the family you've no doubt been blessed with many a blanket-gifts! Our motto: No family member should ever be cold due to the lack of a good, warm blanket made with lots of love by another family member!) As we settled in, we both gave thanks to God for the protection!<br />
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Six hours later, stiff from our nap in the back of a truck (we had an air mattress with us, but no power inverter to blow it up ... the plan was to only need it while at Paul and Andrea's ... who knew we'd be sleeping in our vehicle?!) Bruce decided to get out and check our rig ... make sure everything was in good order, then drive across the freeway to the other side where there was an open Shell station.<br />
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<b>Nothing</b>. That's what he got when he turned the key in the ignition ... nothing. The Tahoe was dead ... no battery power. Ugg! I guess leaving my Mac connected all night long was a <i>bad idea</i> ... oopsie! Apparently its an energy hog even when it's in sleep mode!<br />
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Just as he got his hat and coat on, in preparation for a nice long walk over to that Shell station, a car pulls up next to us. Bruce cautiously walks over and taps on the window (scaring the poor lady half out of her wits!) Turns out she was there to meet up with her carpooler (What do you think? I say she was actually an angel.) She happily jump-started our vehicle and then refused to accept any money for her help. God is GOOD, All the Time! Talk about provision!<br />
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The rest of the day was uneventful. The storm system was behind us and to the east ... not in our path! We made it to Kansas City with enough time to enjoy a wonderful dinner at Red Robin, meet Katy's latest beau, Todd, and then enjoy a movie together.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYM57JSdw_CfHPyUTmP4nS1oR_WSvIxloo-RCgiROa3cmoyTWfBUSG2p6IikImv2X7AgzYQj5VW3u2NVpR9v14wXSwSIlNAuy2SmcBp7H2B3vwWatOccGMXHs__VkeZZzWA49/s1600/IMG_0692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYM57JSdw_CfHPyUTmP4nS1oR_WSvIxloo-RCgiROa3cmoyTWfBUSG2p6IikImv2X7AgzYQj5VW3u2NVpR9v14wXSwSIlNAuy2SmcBp7H2B3vwWatOccGMXHs__VkeZZzWA49/s320/IMG_0692.JPG" /></a></div>We finally got to meet Ms. Izzy, Katy's new kittie ... a ball of bouncing, running, climbing, and fighting fluff! She's adorable! I do believe that MC was quite happy to see us again ... she came right over for a leg rub and plopped herself down, rolled over and begged for a tummy rub. Later, during the movie she found her favorite snuggle spot ... Bruce's tummy when he's all sprawled out in a recliner!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhmDsNAv9BrPSmbv3uB9Fa_bTPBBbAP57y-OTGG5v7lRe8sffmYUwkFEcjVPKAxkznedIas5WDJQFBKZFRdtwLVLFZ8snUW3gJkTuVlhvdi3MibJBXZCCHMzF7K2fx0mbg__V/s1600/IMG_0711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhmDsNAv9BrPSmbv3uB9Fa_bTPBBbAP57y-OTGG5v7lRe8sffmYUwkFEcjVPKAxkznedIas5WDJQFBKZFRdtwLVLFZ8snUW3gJkTuVlhvdi3MibJBXZCCHMzF7K2fx0mbg__V/s320/IMG_0711.JPG" /></a></div>by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-1710382369679381072010-04-30T22:55:00.002-05:002010-05-03T23:10:32.320-05:00<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">So long ... for now!</span></b><br />
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Day Four - Grampa was on duty this morning. Paul needed to go to the store for some construction supplies and Andrea needed to sleep in as long as she could so she'd be full of energy at tonight's Secret Church meeting. Elijah is loving his Grampa J, so there was no trouble. I even got a chance to sleep in ... though I admit I did wake up from time to time to enjoy Elijah's chatter ... I'm not sure just what he was telling Grampa, but it was definitely something exciting!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMEdiCuU8xVSnRLvq0rwpNbzjZ2aagJHhfnU5QK1jQ4CYaW1v_E8MyEVVQfuWkUj5cllD-I4Vp0hyphenhyphen16YC0t3kqIg7cOTa-goMnikTJh39-mWTWpje3rVHWm1DVDGogW4fvVq3T/s1600/IMG_1141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMEdiCuU8xVSnRLvq0rwpNbzjZ2aagJHhfnU5QK1jQ4CYaW1v_E8MyEVVQfuWkUj5cllD-I4Vp0hyphenhyphen16YC0t3kqIg7cOTa-goMnikTJh39-mWTWpje3rVHWm1DVDGogW4fvVq3T/s400/IMG_1141.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>Once Paul got home we set about trying to decide what we would do? Put in an offer on the Leeds house or the Center Point house ... or just continue our search. Both Bruce and I could easily argue the case for either house and the government's $6,500 incentive money was certainly tempting. Paul and Andrea helped us with our debate. I'm sure any onlooker would have wondered just who was voting for what, because we all flipflopped from house to house ... one minute passionately supporting Leeds and only a breath later strongly reminding the group of the drawbacks.<br />
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By noon Bruce got up from his place in the group, grabbed the phone and called Sonia. We all looked at him in wonder. What was he doing?<br />
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"Sonia, we'd like to come in and make an offer on the house in Center Point."<br />
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Hum ... so ... I guess the debate helped Bruce settle his mind. We spent a little bit of time saying our good-byes to everyone (I <i>so</i> hate that part!) and sneeking a few extra hugs and lovies from Elijah, then it was off to the realty office where we spent the rest of our time in Birmingham. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4OCN-7WuW3L9rkz2gk3BCvphxnM3ks5tOLZt94YwZeFOF_MLKz-9NoJ33nXXrez5rBNzG2VHQQY1NIwZ08A0nJM_bL4tCMcfntZx9ayux0GHhpHuLia3W4BKAg3Q-9vYQF0d/s1600/IMG_1144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4OCN-7WuW3L9rkz2gk3BCvphxnM3ks5tOLZt94YwZeFOF_MLKz-9NoJ33nXXrez5rBNzG2VHQQY1NIwZ08A0nJM_bL4tCMcfntZx9ayux0GHhpHuLia3W4BKAg3Q-9vYQF0d/s640/IMG_1144.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Once all the papers were signed we began our long trip home ... to Storm Lake, Iowa. Paul would have to be our proxy after this.<br />
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On our way out of town we met up with Paul at his rental house in the Ensley neighborhood (near downtown Birmingham). We'd seen the house before he took possession, back in December. Since then he's put a new roof on, new siding, new front porch and steps, new windows, fresh paint throughout the interior and is in the process of refinishing the hardwood floors. The transformation is beautiful! Between all the work he's done and that <i>gorgeous,</i> <i>monstrosity</i> of a Magnolia tree in the backyard <i>someone</i> is going to have a nice little house to call home soon!<br />
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Now we are on our way North ... hoping to get a call from Sonia about our offer! Pray for favor? (Thanks!)by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-67871530035853621972010-04-29T22:55:00.002-05:002010-05-05T21:46:26.543-05:00<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The Hunt is On!</span></b><br />
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Day Three - We are off to an early start today ... 8:30 am ... no sleeping in for these two old foggies! Sonia is taking us to the northside today so we needed to get going! We've been meeting her at the church and leaving our vehicle there while we tour. It's good to have "<i>connections</i>" ... LOL!<br />
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There were more houses to see that we had time for, so Bruce and Sonia went through the MLS sheets quickly and ruled out anything that had a lot smaller than 1/2 acre or had lots of steps leading up to the front door. Once the list was culled to a reasonable size we set out.<br />
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Driving around the northside and the northeast area is an amazing experience! There are so many trees and bluffs that it's very difficult to believe you are in a large metropolitan area! Breathtaking beauty everywhere you look.<br />
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We saw many nice homes, but there was one that really stood out: 2005 NE Reed Road, Center Point, Alabama.<br />
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<tr><td align="center" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" valign="top"><img alt="462753_0750000.jpg" border="0" src="http://bhammls.net/BAARReports/Media/462753_0750000.jpg" /><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">What's not to love about a yard filled with flowering shrubs, fruit-bearing trees (pears, figs, pecans, apples) and home that's been meticulously cared-for the past 25 years? The listing descriptions said: </div><blockquote><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="Table4" style="text-align: -webkit-center;"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" valign="top"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Great full brick on shaded 1.6 acres with storage building, large detached garage and backyard fenced area. Living room with brick wood burning fireplace seperate dining area and kitchen with large breakfast bar(stove, dishwasher & microwave to stay)lots of natural light. Enjoy relaxing on the covered front porch and the large covered deck which is conveniently located near kitchen area exit. Three large bedrooms and 2 baths along with a bonus room that can be used as a sewing room, office, bedroom or sitting room and last but not least there is several closets. Lots of parking on the long driveway for all your guest when you have them over for the holiday BBQ's on the BBQ pit in the backyard. Easy access from kitchen eating area to partial finished basement allows for additional storage.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;">Later in the evening we decided to have Paul and Andrea come see the place ... needed to discuss some of the changes we felt we'd need to make to accommodate a workshop for Bruce and a garage/storage space for our "extras" (Fancy, trailer, car dolly ...). Andrea tells us that the minute they drove up Paul said, "OH! My parents are SO gonna buy THIS place!"<br />
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Here is a <a href="http://www.visualtour.com/applets/flashviewer2/facebook.asp?t=2173487&sk=23&style=0&prt=12571">VISUAL TOUR</a> of the place ... enjoy!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Well ... we will sleep on it and see how we feel in the morning. </div></td></tr>by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-12294256449841114532010-04-28T17:40:00.002-05:002010-05-02T18:13:47.885-05:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>House Hunting - Alabama Style!</b></span><br />
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Day Two - How fun it is to wake up hearing the sounds of a baby happily jabbering away in the morning! Elijah is an early riser and completely content to spend time in his crib before the rest of the household rises. We could listen in on him through the baby monitor in the living room. The temptation to get him out of the crib was great, but we didn't want to be in trouble on our first morning.<br />
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Paul has Wednesdays off so he agreed to accompany us on our house hunt, along with Elijah. The tour today focused on area East of Birmingham:<br />
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<ul><li>Leeds</li>
<li>Irondale</li>
<li>Cedar Point (East side)</li>
</ul><br />
While we looked at many houses, the one we liked the best from today's search was<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">6596 SW Lynn Ave, Leeds. It's a foreclosure home, so poses some special issues as far as timing (no control over what a bank will or will not agree to for closing dates.) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We like that this home has three nice sized bedrooms, two baths, and a family room, (in addition to a living room, dining roomkitchen, and a full basement.) It sits on a beautiful lot with a strong slope in the back so spring rain water has a definite place to go. There is a deck just off the kitchen wrapping around to the back and lots of old growth trees ... shouldn't be hard to find a place for the tire swing! Just down the street is a beautiful park and the church is only 15 miles away.</span><br />
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I think it's fun that the street just south of the house is Katherine St., the street just north of the house is Carolyn St. and to the east is Elisabeth St. ... all familiar names (my mother and her two sisters!)<br />
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<tr><td align="center" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" valign="top"><img alt="460392_0618750.jpg" border="0" src="http://bhammls.net/BAARReports/Media/460392_0618750.jpg" /><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">Drawbacks include a water/mold problem in the basement just under the front doorsteps (probably requiring some landscaping modifications and mold abatement). The living room and dining room need wallpaper removal and fresh paint, the kitchen needs to be gutted and redesigned (luckily we have great access with a fabulous cabinet maker!), the big bathroom needs to be gutted and have some redesign work done, the family room needs the dark paneling to be painted and we think the basement steps would need to be moved in order to make the kitchen work. THAT is a pretty long list!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In addition, Bruce would want to extend the parking slab to include room for the trailer and other misc odd vehicles we seem to have off and on. Then he would be converting the basement (which is exposed in the back) into his workshop, including the addition of a basement bathroom.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It's all do-able, but ... gives us reason to pause.</div></td></tr><br />
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<tr></tr>by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-44385267278425563602010-04-27T17:16:00.005-05:002010-05-02T18:10:02.819-05:00<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Sweet Home Alabama!</span></b><br />
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Day One - We arrived around noon and meet up with the realtor, Sonia, and headed straight away to see some houses. The tour began in the northwest corner of Birmingham. We fell in love with the second home we saw ... beautiful beautiful yard and a very well-maintained home. Crossed it off the list because it sat next to a trailer-home and across the street from another trailer-home. Call us intolerant, politically incorrect, or just plain snooty, but we <i>suspect</i> that property value just will not hold given what we were seeing.<br />
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Sonia told us the W/NW areas of Birmingham are struggling and have been on the decline the past couple years. She strongly suggests we constrain our search to the NE, E, and SE areas ... including small towns outside the metro area.<br />
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After a long afternoon we decided it was time for us to call it a day and go meet Mr. Elijah! We made arrangements to meet Sonia about 10 a.m. tomorrow morning.<br />
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Mr. Elijah turns out to be even more adorable in person than he is in pictures! I know that is hard to believe, but it is true! He gave us a bit of a shy-shoulder for the first half hour or so, but after that we were in-like-Flynn!!! He was smiles and giggles. We took the kids to Chipotle for supper since Andrea had to go back to church for worship team practice. I had a ball giving Elijah "<i>rasperries</i>" under his chin and listening to his big budda-belly laugh ... I'm really looking forward to seeing this little guy on a frequent basis! His eyes are <i>so bright</i>!by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-59824824769064891512010-04-24T20:58:00.007-05:002010-05-09T21:58:43.304-05:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">SOLD!</span><br />
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We sold our amazing little acreage at auction today! What an interesting experience ... pins and needles. You might wonder, "Why would anyone sell their property at auction <i>by choice</i>?!" We admit, it does seem counterintuitive and it certainly tested our ability to totally trust God to provide for our needs.<br />
<br />
Bruce and I have bought and sold real estate many times over the years ... <i>mostly</i> through realtors (one property was sold privately). This time, because we needed to greatly reduce the amount of "stuff" we would be moving (trust me ... when pack-rats and do-it-yourself-ers live on an acreage <i>there will be</i> lots of stuff tucked in everywhere!) we decided the best approach would be to have an auction.<br />
<br />
Because we would be auctioning our "stuff" we had the <i>option</i> of including the property on the auction. We decided to give ourselves until April 1 to try selling the acreage ourselves. Then, if it hadn't sold, we would give the auctioneer the 'go ahead' to include the acreage in his efforts. He felt this would give him plenty of time.<br />
<br />
I admit, we didn't work as hard as we <i>could have</i> on selling it ourselves - mainly promoting it via the internet and word-of-mouth. Never even managed to get a sign posted at the end of our lane (silly us! can't tell you how many vehicles we've sold during the 14+ years we've lived here simply by parking them near the road and putting a sign in the window).<br />
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With 10' of snow still on the ground March 20th we had some serious doubts about any of the auction plans being realistic! <i>Who in their right mind would come to an auction under those conditions? </i>Worse yet, how could anyone actually visualize the beauty of this place whilst it's covered in old snow? How much damage would be done to the yard? (After 14 years of blood-sweat-n-tears getting the yard into the beautiful condition it is now in neither Bruce or I could face the idea of having it ruined because of a sale.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYQQuwPCac_Ox2zGw_Wvc9IOUp1TU5j6VUmNEMQ9U4EvgJFAED3DqGm3LSetxBajeTyaXIlrqH3K1yEJcu5ux_Ntq98J7RntWxqBTw53NV91xwGLvW_7baULSQnOncpYFWDUC/s1600/IMG_0159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYQQuwPCac_Ox2zGw_Wvc9IOUp1TU5j6VUmNEMQ9U4EvgJFAED3DqGm3LSetxBajeTyaXIlrqH3K1yEJcu5ux_Ntq98J7RntWxqBTw53NV91xwGLvW_7baULSQnOncpYFWDUC/s320/IMG_0159.JPG" /></a></div><br />
As March faded into April we began to have some serious doubts! On April 1 we met with Kevin the auctioneer. He <i>assured us</i> the snow would melt in due time and reminded us that in his 20+ years of auctioneering he's only ever had to cancel one auction due to weather. Deep breath ... trust God ... trust God ... trust God ... goodness life can be challenging!<br />
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</div><div style="margin: 0px;">Once we set the wheels in motion our schedule for April was set in stone:</div><ul><li>Friday, April 9 - <a href="http://willowhillgrama.blogspot.com/2010/04/my-big-crafty-sale-more-i-think-about.html">My Big Crafty Sale</a> (and books!) </li>
<li>Saturday, April 17 - <a href="http://willowhillgrama.blogspot.com/2010/04/acreage-open-house-today-is-day.html">Open House</a> (for the acreage)</li>
<li>Saturday, April 24 - Auction Day!</li>
</ul>We <i>reluctantly</i> agreed to press on and immediately contacted all of our prayer warriors (you know the folks ... those who truly understand the power of prayer and are disciplined in their prayer lives) and ask for some pretty specific assistance from God:<br />
<blockquote><br />
<ul><li>NO moisture of any kind on April 24th from 6am to the end of the sale. </li>
<li>LOTS of moisture on April 22-23rd ... so fields would be too wet for the farmer's to be in on April 24! We wanted all the farming families to be free to attend our sale! We were going to need lots of customers to move this much stuff! </li>
<li>Last, but not least, a good result from the auction. </li>
</ul></blockquote><ul></ul>So, here's how <i>that</i> all worked out:<br />
<br />
<ol><li>Thursday was a picture-perfect spring day for Iowa! Bright blue skies and all sunshine! </li>
<li>Friday was nice enough (very light moisture in the air) in the morning giving us just enough time to mow the yard, but by afternoon we had rain ... lots of it! (Isn't God faithful?) </li>
<li>This morning? Well ... it rained ... until about 6:30 am - 7:00 am. Then, it dried up and the sun came out and stayed out giving us the perfect day for an auction! Everyone came. We were able to use the neighbor's field for parking and what a good thing that was! We needed it! It looked like we were having a carnival ... lots of people ... lots of things for folks to buy strewn all around the yard! Furniture in the front yard, crafts in the grassy area west of my craft-cottage, garden supplies and equipment all around the barn and tools by the woodshop ... it was pretty crazy! </li>
</ol><div>The property (real estate) sold first with bidding beginning at 11:15 a.m. about a half hour later. In the end we sold it for less than we wanted, but <i>only after</i> much prayer and consideration. God gave Bruce a strong sense of peace about the buyers and the price, so we accepted the final bid and then moved on to the selling of everything else! We know it's all God's money anyway and He will do what He wants with it. If He wants to, He will totally restore the portion we gave up on this part of the sale, that's a certainty.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9f2tcr8HqQhJq7BWT0bgcpfKIjo2lxAfYVsg9hY1VbqEPXQ3rQP2rc7RTSogWITmVQCh784b6X-RChhOXxxo6E6-2_wCZUPDg9xlCYx9IiQRa2kYTLgrz-sZIsSGkJT6I24Ny/s1600/IMG_0745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9f2tcr8HqQhJq7BWT0bgcpfKIjo2lxAfYVsg9hY1VbqEPXQ3rQP2rc7RTSogWITmVQCh784b6X-RChhOXxxo6E6-2_wCZUPDg9xlCYx9IiQRa2kYTLgrz-sZIsSGkJT6I24Ny/s320/IMG_0745.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tables lined up and ready to load with household items.</span></div><br />
</div><div>At one point during the afternoon someone sitting inside the house with me asked how I could be so relaxed about it all ... just letting it all go like that. My response? </div><blockquote><i>"Look out my picture window. See all those cars parked there? If I would have asked for some volunteers to come and help us load and move all the things we are selling today I wouldn't have had 1/4th that many cars or people. Not only are so many people here to help us move but they are actually paying us for the privilege. How could it get any better?"</i></blockquote><div>That is how I <i>truly</i> feel! What a blessing it was today! God allowed our guests today to help me thin out our worldly possessions and build up our storehouse (bank account) in preparation for our move south and for our new role as workers in His harvest fields.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbsBmb8GV7lywqWieHiexCBJfRx3KjsJw4BXFwx3LYXw2-Nin9qO1L72FMJrxj2dgd0B9hE-X509a8gY4IolfODB0ALTAwqlUJCfEtYDCcA0OJVhTSwq14a7gvDyGcZ4NtWpC/s1600/IMG_0746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbsBmb8GV7lywqWieHiexCBJfRx3KjsJw4BXFwx3LYXw2-Nin9qO1L72FMJrxj2dgd0B9hE-X509a8gY4IolfODB0ALTAwqlUJCfEtYDCcA0OJVhTSwq14a7gvDyGcZ4NtWpC/s320/IMG_0746.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All kinds of tools & handi-man supplies on the sale</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLd8QzoZW5Oju0OD5twuYoGyuJwhi9nN0VlORxCtOj4g8ciKweHsKkYbw1lZl-DUKrBDXjY_3q7QxWsTszE3dkieIAwjyi-xr1SlTiko2fwqX5DkymwxK9p7AlfGS9sKU9Jph/s1600/IMG_0747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLd8QzoZW5Oju0OD5twuYoGyuJwhi9nN0VlORxCtOj4g8ciKweHsKkYbw1lZl-DUKrBDXjY_3q7QxWsTszE3dkieIAwjyi-xr1SlTiko2fwqX5DkymwxK9p7AlfGS9sKU9Jph/s320/IMG_0747.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Band saw, dust collector, table saw ... oh me oh my! Handi-man's Dream!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Nephew, Jason, is checking out Uncle Bruce's stash)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVzo5GKSb1L-V1q7dnIjaXoJjghjaXAIUP2X2pa7sbg9MdoYel-JUqMuC9mf1Wtg3i3rANZq_Us1l1KU1W_Nz-jAsZVi2i-KPQqsSxq0ruNgeKBg5RBaDZg3_ZZbrzWy8iZYP/s1600/IMG_0748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVzo5GKSb1L-V1q7dnIjaXoJjghjaXAIUP2X2pa7sbg9MdoYel-JUqMuC9mf1Wtg3i3rANZq_Us1l1KU1W_Nz-jAsZVi2i-KPQqsSxq0ruNgeKBg5RBaDZg3_ZZbrzWy8iZYP/s320/IMG_0748.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yard tools etc lined the walls of the barn</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZMZr2XB8zZfCib4nnUWwUk7O8kWBRNsCZBbXg5PBUX2ZBbljoNzUreFpFREQq_NeFX2k2zbPUL7wPOWEPns3O57IajOO-INtE0kPCilztamwxPjtf73ApdfSx3cXbtYSR8FH/s1600/IMG_0749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZMZr2XB8zZfCib4nnUWwUk7O8kWBRNsCZBbXg5PBUX2ZBbljoNzUreFpFREQq_NeFX2k2zbPUL7wPOWEPns3O57IajOO-INtE0kPCilztamwxPjtf73ApdfSx3cXbtYSR8FH/s320/IMG_0749.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sprinkler system, gardening supplies, and the ever-famous "miscellaneous stuff"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvOOWSwo_eOoqmu2fVbEhkD_8X1TZw1CG_-ekeFYtGqqOqyVvG8FS07eEcrzWog-rCPsOGW-sjXVsSTjvOFWChLfhjBTfMYAaGxm5XZLpwl1agGamCKJI1YFaWJg964qa9h2N/s1600/IMG_0760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvOOWSwo_eOoqmu2fVbEhkD_8X1TZw1CG_-ekeFYtGqqOqyVvG8FS07eEcrzWog-rCPsOGW-sjXVsSTjvOFWChLfhjBTfMYAaGxm5XZLpwl1agGamCKJI1YFaWJg964qa9h2N/s320/IMG_0760.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our friend, Bruce E, came early to help move things out of the buildings and onto the yard. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, what's he doing on his cell phone? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We chose to believe he was calling friends to tell them about </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">all the goodies they'll find at the sale!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpnccE9EuCTW6wXrvPG_NLhE6exN2XHyt4hElVSabXRcUlW10YLOpTZPAIQYZzt3v3-Oi7Q49eSFEps1qEKU9MiyDnJzvT6IP3N7rbyR15avmBEOrUiAk_yB4t6BBuwOn-spJ/s1600/IMG_0751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpnccE9EuCTW6wXrvPG_NLhE6exN2XHyt4hElVSabXRcUlW10YLOpTZPAIQYZzt3v3-Oi7Q49eSFEps1qEKU9MiyDnJzvT6IP3N7rbyR15avmBEOrUiAk_yB4t6BBuwOn-spJ/s320/IMG_0751.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A couple more helpers! Sister Sandy, friends Lee M and Steve helping me get things </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">out of the basement and outside to the tables.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihW_Hf9P3O44E2YGutFho7xg0BViebcY9AO5kVwhL7KYQGDklexvCFvDf5bi-jIa-QEYxx8nc_w4S6opNwQeRf_JimvZ0A26kkBWAzlktNp-ZYUfn2ggTS91j3nm51hqJpu7Zf/s1600/IMG_0752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihW_Hf9P3O44E2YGutFho7xg0BViebcY9AO5kVwhL7KYQGDklexvCFvDf5bi-jIa-QEYxx8nc_w4S6opNwQeRf_JimvZ0A26kkBWAzlktNp-ZYUfn2ggTS91j3nm51hqJpu7Zf/s320/IMG_0752.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Katy decided to climb up to the attic of the corn crib and take photos ... great idea!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For sale: wood-burning stove, trailer, Cub Cadet lawn mower, comfy lawn chairs and more. :-)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUSjCX3H8cL9lMgwBo529npFQ-VBxijk_uerYqc6rw-vUip160o9NeFWqCEWkR4yHa6KzjhkTUcAJ4LsSjxS9DtaTpGrtipTTGsTJXRvivoVGybpqKYBphW1UTDd-spmWkzBG/s1600/IMG_0753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUSjCX3H8cL9lMgwBo529npFQ-VBxijk_uerYqc6rw-vUip160o9NeFWqCEWkR4yHa6KzjhkTUcAJ4LsSjxS9DtaTpGrtipTTGsTJXRvivoVGybpqKYBphW1UTDd-spmWkzBG/s320/IMG_0753.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So much stuff...even the side yard is full! This is gonna take awhile to sell! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I sure hope </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cone Auctioneers</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> got a good night's sleep.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oV-7E7ZA5MY-iSoD-XoHHDPL3UAj53flbElkSUjrYafPhY9gxoipVE7m8CMm5iG7nHIwD33yvMdJPXYTdp_czsIHBop1H6rTri9K4ImJJJChCUrsPdJQ2Otsvy_7gcB-V9hV/s1600/IMG_0754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oV-7E7ZA5MY-iSoD-XoHHDPL3UAj53flbElkSUjrYafPhY9gxoipVE7m8CMm5iG7nHIwD33yvMdJPXYTdp_czsIHBop1H6rTri9K4ImJJJChCUrsPdJQ2Otsvy_7gcB-V9hV/s320/IMG_0754.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">OK! Now you know just how much stuff a person can stash when you have lots of out-buildings!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Those stacks of "stuff" in the lower right corner of the photo? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That's just some of the stuff left-over from my Big Crafty Sale two weeks ago!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs6wnFjZltCTVrQxDH5dBHtnWJ5V4dkldIN5wwJc_XTecMLdKe8vRKf8aIguOWvuvlutzvNQAGasOaSD1Rp5hF6BHqWGzDlo1lseOlEfLS9IPDgS_1Y0od1jJpkIcg0lyCvHJ/s1600/IMG_0755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs6wnFjZltCTVrQxDH5dBHtnWJ5V4dkldIN5wwJc_XTecMLdKe8vRKf8aIguOWvuvlutzvNQAGasOaSD1Rp5hF6BHqWGzDlo1lseOlEfLS9IPDgS_1Y0od1jJpkIcg0lyCvHJ/s320/IMG_0755.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My sister, Sandy, helped sort through the paper and rubber stamps to make flats with nice collections.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm so blessed to have my sisters ... I really can't imagine a life without sisters!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmAa0nWKUVZXHYlM_7jJAZiRTS2XJ5j8w_pruqYTmB-zFuTxw2xjHAKTF_xGWVPnpmYe4WSejHT9_Gn-6TyN4NRKKtnwq-DVBMKV6MlBIN3P2wGf6Wkizo1npfHwkvcTaxoSf/s1600/IMG_0756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmAa0nWKUVZXHYlM_7jJAZiRTS2XJ5j8w_pruqYTmB-zFuTxw2xjHAKTF_xGWVPnpmYe4WSejHT9_Gn-6TyN4NRKKtnwq-DVBMKV6MlBIN3P2wGf6Wkizo1npfHwkvcTaxoSf/s320/IMG_0756.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our very-kind neighbors to the north offered to let everyone park on the </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">grassy boulevard on the south-end of their field. PERFECT!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XMYlYe5xfXbXzNwjn4RBbnaxPAskiKcAC-VsWMCVyusIjioev4ACgjN_Ur-KK_ScR_X4yNmjSE_x3ZtDDnCrhz5itxslYEXZi1VwHWkdUAWIw_tb9IHboiQP_hcdKQdf-F78/s1600/IMG_0757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XMYlYe5xfXbXzNwjn4RBbnaxPAskiKcAC-VsWMCVyusIjioev4ACgjN_Ur-KK_ScR_X4yNmjSE_x3ZtDDnCrhz5itxslYEXZi1VwHWkdUAWIw_tb9IHboiQP_hcdKQdf-F78/s320/IMG_0757.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">LOOK at all the cars! Reminds me of the county fair!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQD0KdWm2zVVrivk1ySId8PJDK5GSs7_k9Db5AN-QUbW_IdleSJgxRXIKucU3XlmQK3TF3p1QWzgEYtK2OWSBcs1tVDuCXzVVT2MFv9BtQ_lPAM9ozVxS7LOCW0LRzqPrOKldJ/s1600/IMG_0762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQD0KdWm2zVVrivk1ySId8PJDK5GSs7_k9Db5AN-QUbW_IdleSJgxRXIKucU3XlmQK3TF3p1QWzgEYtK2OWSBcs1tVDuCXzVVT2MFv9BtQ_lPAM9ozVxS7LOCW0LRzqPrOKldJ/s320/IMG_0762.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Did I mention that we prayed for God to send a big crowd? Woohoo! Look at all the people!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-KxFN4wlXl4adQVjsRHPaX1GMmbQbtsLIk0YTMtbtjKZZjkFPr2lHG2XiTZjvfd_SEJ0VoceTJNomb69xSuCxiZEnbspE7TuxyvpJfmWUzuJtmJJbZEPYTJPkMEFT-SaNhvW/s1600/IMG_0761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-KxFN4wlXl4adQVjsRHPaX1GMmbQbtsLIk0YTMtbtjKZZjkFPr2lHG2XiTZjvfd_SEJ0VoceTJNomb69xSuCxiZEnbspE7TuxyvpJfmWUzuJtmJJbZEPYTJPkMEFT-SaNhvW/s320/IMG_0761.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There goes my living room furniture and the adorable children's folding chairs!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOr9ZDM1N5I-mzSsdXpfiE3MzcjnbKh6992OvbG-YR8AQZ0rs-g5v61SqiRIFqAlSF06m8CHsCANg8dtnHEGPKx-y89LvQ21NcyVcjA3rz4ttONLlZzFW0_kIC5JsRdIJyXOMT/s1600/IMG_0764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOr9ZDM1N5I-mzSsdXpfiE3MzcjnbKh6992OvbG-YR8AQZ0rs-g5v61SqiRIFqAlSF06m8CHsCANg8dtnHEGPKx-y89LvQ21NcyVcjA3rz4ttONLlZzFW0_kIC5JsRdIJyXOMT/s320/IMG_0764.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Going ... Going ... Going ...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8d3UZDW4HL2v-5uhfwQLcTVlMpU2moC9GbbnZsD7HDnzZ7qWlkhlDCECjDn4GwCOd5moYyjMNAnc4b4-UHEDaWWzOgP_hPpT_GQ1mmHo1tJTykPMBlGy1XZDfDaAhOIbjOuR/s1600/IMG_0765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8d3UZDW4HL2v-5uhfwQLcTVlMpU2moC9GbbnZsD7HDnzZ7qWlkhlDCECjDn4GwCOd5moYyjMNAnc4b4-UHEDaWWzOgP_hPpT_GQ1mmHo1tJTykPMBlGy1XZDfDaAhOIbjOuR/s320/IMG_0765.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bye Bye Craft Stuff...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAjBGBAJKoaxGsy79sss9v_kJqKP4QcNTH4qkr7kU0WdW-F6bVI87Gmr_OAIhQJJLtUhrSjcgkyxbvA0eM727uoZIVQHN21_8DOA4fAwXS-D22bmN46nKzIuIH_Xaq4lh0-6K/s1600/IMG_0768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAjBGBAJKoaxGsy79sss9v_kJqKP4QcNTH4qkr7kU0WdW-F6bVI87Gmr_OAIhQJJLtUhrSjcgkyxbvA0eM727uoZIVQHN21_8DOA4fAwXS-D22bmN46nKzIuIH_Xaq4lh0-6K/s320/IMG_0768.jpg" /></a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The flower beds did their BEST today ... they were TOTALLY showing off!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2Ou3T4SGQDuHmd8NxLz-f5XhJnH_7dWqzYsdKC4LeK3WjwD6ncn5R_qhsXwiiTz8Td_h6o_4e3DtTJ9XxPIMK9oNHy5gK-jCAoCoLEzV1usvKxhoNr7-rYsDz2l_HhqZ4J9Y/s1600/IMG_0776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2Ou3T4SGQDuHmd8NxLz-f5XhJnH_7dWqzYsdKC4LeK3WjwD6ncn5R_qhsXwiiTz8Td_h6o_4e3DtTJ9XxPIMK9oNHy5gK-jCAoCoLEzV1usvKxhoNr7-rYsDz2l_HhqZ4J9Y/s320/IMG_0776.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">End of a very long day!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Friends leaving with their new-found treasures (Thanks Lee & Becky & Neely!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Friends arriving (Glad you came by to see what God accomplished today Ken & Bonnie!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWreJaY-Lr77ijEAJ2kpqZ_wgvRTKcSGFyOiVzHCXK2AuTce5WhO2pD5SC1bvO23rF3dCHLJ4L2ZjQJjkbxd35_5qkKeGmgPYZjWXNMup7IYR-jU0cHlwZdTi4_PWHmMiJuVcT/s1600/IMG_0786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWreJaY-Lr77ijEAJ2kpqZ_wgvRTKcSGFyOiVzHCXK2AuTce5WhO2pD5SC1bvO23rF3dCHLJ4L2ZjQJjkbxd35_5qkKeGmgPYZjWXNMup7IYR-jU0cHlwZdTi4_PWHmMiJuVcT/s320/IMG_0786.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">5:04 pm The last few shoppers are loading up and the first few raindrops are arriving.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME!</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
A couple of our fantastic helpers managed to avoid the camera but not the work! Thanks to the following for being so supportive and super helpful:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Crystal Cook (what can we say? sorting & packing help, encourager, prayer warrior ... we owe you <i>so much</i> ... there's just no words ... if God blesses you as much as you've blessed us you better buckle your seatbelt girl!)</li>
<li>Dave Jacobson (drove up from Ames to be here for us ... world's best brother!)</li>
<li>Jerry, Sandy, Jason Antes (drove down from Mpls to be here for us, came a day early and stayed a day longer to help with prep and clean-up, then even helped load the trailer for the drive to Birmingham ... huge huge huge THANKS!)</li>
<li>Lee & Becky Meyers (who were not only helpers, but also shoppers! BIG thanks!)</li>
<li>Bruce Engelmann (for volunteering to abandon farming duties to come and help these two <i>old foggies</i> from the Sunday night bible study group!)</li>
<li>Steve (for pitching in when he really only intended to be a 'shopper' today! guess that'll teach him to be early to an auction? God bless you guy!)</li>
<li>Kim (who couldn't be here the day of the sale, but still managed to put in lots of hours helping me sort and pack craft stuff for days and days and days!)</li>
<li>Kevin Cone and his gang (for putting up with all our questions, doubts, and concerns over the winter and esp the past few weeks ... and for doing a bang-up job on the sale ... we pray God blesses you for being faithful in your assignment and for being an instrument of His Blessings in our lives!)</li>
<li>Katy Jacobson (who drove up from Kansas City and spent the whole week helping us ... even mowing in the rain on Friday so the place would look its best! you're the best! couldn't have done it without all your help over the past three weeks, your words of encouragement and prayers!)</li>
</ul><br />
It's been a pretty amazing journey to be sure! Feel free to follow the links to the stories I've posted along the way and celebrate God's great mercies with us!by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-83649783451787603732010-04-17T12:03:00.007-05:002010-05-18T21:55:43.244-05:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Acreage Open House</span><br />
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Today is <i>THE DAY</i> ... we officially invite folks into our world ... sharing a place that has been an oasis for two middle-agers who were in need of an oasis ... a place of peace and restoration. Will people feel the presence of the Holy Spirit here like we do? Will they see all the beauty this small bit of earth has to offer? Have we done <i>our</i> best in getting <i>her</i> ready ... our beautiful <i>lady ... </i>this acreage we call, Willow Hill? I hope so.<br />
<br />
After the craft sale last weekend we've each tried to stay focused on those tasks that must be completed for an Open House, for the auction, and ultimately for the move. Talk about a challenge! All the "left over" crafty supplies ended up spending the week in the trailer ... there just wasn't time to deal with them.<br />
<br />
We decided we'd have to work smarter <i>and</i> harder to reach our goals, so we created <i>designated areas</i> in the buildings around the place. The garage would be the place we put things that would be on the auction. The grandchildren's playhouse would be things we'd be taking with us when we move. My crafty-cottage would eventually be only things we are keeping (for this weekend, however, it would be a mix ... no time to sort and move now). We haven't have time to do anything with the barn yet, but Bruce was making good progress in his woodshop. The corn crib and quansit are both ready.<br />
<br />
Crystal Cook (another good friend ... I have been blessed with <i>so many great friends</i> while living here!) spent three days this week helping me box things up in the basement ... some boxes for the auction and some to be moved (not to mention the to-be-burned pile). Then she brought over a team from her house cleaning company and spent Friday cleaning the main level of the house ... talk about helpful! Wow! I decluttered while they did the dusting, glass surfaces, and floors.<br />
<br />
When we woke up this morning, the sun was shining, the grass was green and ready to mow and the tulips were totally showing off! All-in-all it is a <i>perfect day</i> for an Open House. We made a quick round on the mowers, then Bruce and I showered, dressed, and started a batch of chocolate - chocolate chip brownies and a pot of Godiva Chocolate coffee for our guests.<br />
<br />
We had a nice group of visitors ... from empty nesters like us to families with as many as 3 children (keep in mind ... this house has only 2 official bedrooms), even an elderly couple who'd lived on the acreage many years ago, come by to see the place and share stories from their tenure here ... we enjoyed them all.<br />
<br />
Now? Well, we wait and see what God has in mind. In one week much will change!<br />
<br />
Want a tour? Check out the website we made for the acreage <a href="http://www.buymysanctuary.wordpress.com/">HERE</a>by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-58391227395726154492010-04-09T22:55:00.002-05:002010-05-01T11:49:59.607-05:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">My Big Crafty Sale!</span><br />
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<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The more I think about the prospect of moving so many crafty supplies the more I am convinced that they must be sold. At first I thought I would sell them on the auction we'd be having April 24, but there are just too many. I suspect the prices would just be too low (too few people at the auction, too many items, and too little time ... any economist would be able to forecast the results of that formula!) Discussing this with Katy one afternoon caused her to suggest a separate sale ... just crafts. It took me a bit to agree as our schedule has already been pretty tight ... I couldn't see how I would have time to pull that off. She agreed to help by arriving the Thursday evening prior to the sale (the only weekend available would be April 9-11 as we were having our discussion on March 28th!). </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">My friend, Kim, spent many days prior to the sale ... helping me sort through supplies and get them boxed up for the ride to Summit Evangelical Free Church in Alta where the sale was going to be conducted. Turns out this process was much harder than I'd expected! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Kim and I would go to my precious little craft cottage ... pick a corner ... and get started. My resolve to "<i>sell it all</i>" would melt away and I'd find myself creating a <i>Keep</i> box and a <i>Sell</i> box. Then I would sleep on it and by morning I'd be convicted and move things from the <i>Keep</i> pile over to the <i>Sell</i> pile. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Thus it went, craft by craft, until the day before the sale! Working my way through all of my beloved crafts ... card making, scrapbooking, knitting, lace making, rug weaving, sewing, painting, gardening, cooking ... a slow and rather tender process of letting go ... each day bringing a surprising new freedom ... freedom from the years of unfinished (yet loved) projects ... turns out allowing myself to let go of all my old ideas/inspirations/plans created a newfound horizon for future possibilities. Even to the point that it invaded my dreams! I was letting-go in my nightly dream-life ... amazing ... <i>Who knew something so difficult would be so rewarding</i>?!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">As the supplies were getting prepared, I also got busy making posters to put up in a variety of locations around town. Facebook helped me get the word out, as did an ad in the local paper and an announcement at MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers). There wasn't much time but somehow we managed!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The sale would be April 9 from noon to 8pm. Due to restrictions at the church we wouldn't be able to do any setup until the morning of the sale ... something that would be challenging at best! Then, the day before the sale the church secretary called to say we could setup that afternoon/evening! I quickly called Becky (another good friend) who'd offered to help us ... she could help, so Bruce and I drove a<i> full</i> 8'x12' enclosed trailer to Alta. Becky arrived just as we began to bring the first few boxes into the building. We spent about 5 hours unloading and setting up. There was no time to get all the pricing done so we decided to just trust the Lord to manage that little detail! For the most part our pricing strategy went like this:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><ul><li>Papers were $0.75 per pound (<i>crazy cheap</i>!) ... regardless of the type of paper (so, even the beautiful petallics and gold glitter papers!)</li>
<li>Envelopes were priced by the piece or by the box (yes, there were boxes of 250 envelopes in my stash!)</li>
<li>Everything was "<i>Make an Offer</i>"</li>
</ul><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The morning of the sale I got word that my sister, Sandy, and neice, Laura, and her new little baby, Darrin, would be coming to help! WOW! This was a <i>big</i> answer to prayer! Sandy and Laura are both crafters, so would be infinitely helpful at the sale. They could answer questions, help people with their price/offers, keep things organized, etc. God is so Good!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We spent the morning of the sale making pricing signs and getting a pay station set up near the church entrance. Kim and Katy would be the cashiers (I really didn't want to know what people were offering to pay for my beloved supplies.) Kim's familiarity with paper products (from the old Print Shop days!) was a great help! And her trust in God's provision and understanding of the mission made all the different at the pay station!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">During the sale I tried to keep things organized, help people find matching/coordinating supplies or explain just <i>what</i> some of those supplies were <i>meant to be used for</i>! I had supplies for all kinds of fun crafty-artsy activities ... some not so obvious to figure out as others!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">All proceeds from this sale were being used to buy sewing machines for the young ladies graduating from the Aim Asia orphanage in India this spring so I was really hoping we would raise at least $700 - $900. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The day before the sale I was talking about the goals with Bruce and said, "Wouldn't it be amazing if God used the sale to raise enough money to buy ALL the machines they need <i>plus</i> enough to send one young lady to the university?" A goal that would require $1400. We both knew how much "stuff" I had, but this seemed pretty unlikely ... a nice goal though.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Craft Sale results? When everything "cleared" ... we ended up with $1520! God is So Good! Not only that, but we ended up going home with almost 50% of the supplies, a much more realistic amount for an auction. Did I mention that God is Good? All the Time!!!</div>by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-19119088838979132642009-11-21T23:15:00.003-06:002009-12-25T06:37:21.536-06:00<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The day started out with a workout in the resort fitness center. A very nice facility! I chose a recumbent bike, Katy used an elliptical trainer, and Bruce worked on some of the resistance equipment. Later we had a wonderful time exploring the area! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We drove to </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Colonial Williamsburg and walked around their Farmer's Market and enjoyed the drive past the college of William and Mary (talk about a beautiful campus!), hung out in their campus bookstore (which is also a Barnes & Nobels! cool!)</span></span><br />
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">While in Colonial Williamsburg, we toured the old Governor's Mansion, a cart-maker's shop, the home of a pioneer entrepreneur, and stayed to watch most of the evening's re-enactment of pre-civil war unrest experienced by folks in this area. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67_7k1oxHm5eht9BDXxj3DL4KvwwzIJX2Ea5vrd5P2qfAzp8wLkIkAbMQzwYgu76RlrIt3QSe29Fz4CtQ8rwbILftLbYwq3w5mQyZACD0iJezS_95HInYNM-leGORG_v9kSH3/s1600-h/IMG_9326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67_7k1oxHm5eht9BDXxj3DL4KvwwzIJX2Ea5vrd5P2qfAzp8wLkIkAbMQzwYgu76RlrIt3QSe29Fz4CtQ8rwbILftLbYwq3w5mQyZACD0iJezS_95HInYNM-leGORG_v9kSH3/s320/IMG_9326.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Once the sun went down it got too cold for us...we headed back to the resort and the hot tub.</span></span><br />
</div>by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-1963707918646665442009-11-20T23:58:00.007-06:002009-12-25T05:55:52.183-06:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Arrived in Williamsburg early afternoon today and checked in at the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Wyndham Kingsgate Resort. </span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Very nice place</span></span><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WtiQiikxbefufd3c5JXQW5BpVv_05BlID1fE6QThwZrNDantKuF2AtWrxNhQT-QUgSpHa_hCcPJx4YfztGB6_SYAIW1YPqxoZYMTYkqTBp-QL8Ai4MY2Tb0a9PnPBx6QNPox/s200/IMG_9152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413488259181268850" border="0" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">! Grabbed a quick picture of Bruce on his way to the get some of our gear out of the vehicle. The weather was just gorgeous ... beautiful blue skies and trees still dressed in their rich fall colors! Lovely.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Our room was nice. It had a small kitchenette and dining table, a sofa bed for Katy, and a master suite for us. </span></span><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLD59vaclZJXVnNfo8We6PC8FqoDSY-Nw7H_cYto8IcKJgJlIH0pie1oXeSCXDnEXbwBx29pDReYwJvaFs0Ty5ceV1mRlHv9KIabOd1hh-rl0T5jvhorkKxv78jSJxLia25gs/s1600-h/IMG_9335.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLD59vaclZJXVnNfo8We6PC8FqoDSY-Nw7H_cYto8IcKJgJlIH0pie1oXeSCXDnEXbwBx29pDReYwJvaFs0Ty5ceV1mRlHv9KIabOd1hh-rl0T5jvhorkKxv78jSJxLia25gs/s200/IMG_9335.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419140358655945298" border="0" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After some exploring we found an amazing video gaming complex on-site ... the ultimate in video games with over 30 state-of-the-art video games and movies ... this would make a </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">great</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> place for future Destination Thanksgivings (once the grandchildren are 8-19 yrs old!).<br /><br /></span></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Over the past couple days, my broken foot started having issues with the running shoes I brought along, so off we went to find a shoe store. Just down the road was a collection of outlet stores (of course we all know they are just a gimmick right?). I found shoes at the Puma store, a warm winter vest at Eddie Bauer, and some perfume at another store. Bruce looked for golf clubs but they didn't have anything he wanted. Katy found some adorable summer sundresses.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Before calling an end to the day we enjoyed their outdoor hot tub ... very nice!</span></span></span></div><div><div><p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><br /></p></div></div></div></div>by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-84868486803302563352009-11-19T22:02:00.005-06:002009-12-10T00:29:26.073-06:00We made great progress yesterday! Katy drove until St. Louis. Then Bruce took over and drove for hour, eventually deciding to pull off the road and "catch a quick nap" (that's PC talk for sleep in the Tahoe!). We had our pillows and blankets along (and our camping gear ... just didn't have a campground LOL) so we were quite comfy.<div>In the morning, we found a McDonald's (I know...that isn't a very healty place for breakfast...oh well ... it's a holiday ...) and got back on the road.</div><div>Check out the beautiful scene we found as we got on the road:</div><div> </div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZkrrSZWOPkw3aht4Q2q_tOEunGtTXL6kLhINZTsPLybH9yiHIISOxaFp7c35dLk2msOZ3E0sejxowoNRR7UVtrT3YE2ogbBXuwM4S4791vEPOjNX-ztGNgWdL35t9gdRxHSw/s200/IMG_9137.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413459417401936114" /><div>We drove through to Lexington, VA. Found a hotel and headed out to Ruby Tuesdays for some dinner before getting a good nights sleep.</div><div>Tomorrow we will arrive in Williamsburg, VA ... the destination for the first part of our Thanksgiving vacation! We'll be there for three days.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div>by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-21379030224469223832009-11-18T21:52:00.002-06:002009-12-09T21:59:11.070-06:00I'm spending the day in Ames while Bruce is in meetings. When he is done we'll be heading down to Kansas City to pick up Katy and begin our trek for the first Jacobson Family Destination Thanksgiving!<div>While waiting for Bruce I'm off to Sam's Club to have the tire checked on the Tahoe ... the front passenger side keeps losing air. Pesky! Then I'm going to work on getting some digi-scrap pages posted ... my assignments for the first half of November. Hoping my "usual" wifi spots in Ames are working okay today!</div>by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-43321920568834190622009-11-15T17:06:00.002-06:002009-12-25T05:43:51.612-06:00Today I decided to do a "Spring Cleaning" on my cleaning-closet ... yep ... I know ... it's ANYTHING BUT spring right now ... does it count that the weather is unseasonably warm for Iowa ... in November?<br /><br />I took EVERYTHING out of the cabinet, sorted, discarded, donated, and then put things back into the cabinet. Here's how it looked once the work was all done. (Sure wishing I'd taken some "before" shots! It was beginning to be reminiscent of Fiber McGee's closet (so, for you young folks that was an old-time radio show...if Fiber McGee opened the closet door EVERYTHING would come tumbling out!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPo-Hvg-IAeOFD0oWjN5I0T2MpO0KaS8Tx7YQ0yqsqwDv7BKV9b2UL7cuBPewX3R1-LgrJcr26jB6CmzvFOp1iVBlSqjlOv2NNm2qYZ2cEl2VBONIRXmxYN-x_m2GkhW9WD-R/s1600-h/IMG_9129.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPo-Hvg-IAeOFD0oWjN5I0T2MpO0KaS8Tx7YQ0yqsqwDv7BKV9b2UL7cuBPewX3R1-LgrJcr26jB6CmzvFOp1iVBlSqjlOv2NNm2qYZ2cEl2VBONIRXmxYN-x_m2GkhW9WD-R/s320/IMG_9129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419130894960579922" border="0" /></a>That's the top half...and here's the bottom half (I have a "thing" about running out of rags for cleaning...so...I have a big ol' bucket full of them!)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaWe9Ix-eEOdoiA1dY47FgSBd2PblZi3TRDpTLUQXZGYwBE9d1Y5RTLUFlLNocTujcVuMWwVwn_G66CkM8xwSLLjKHq44F3NfdfJFLUDAwfVSDRHVQSeZn6bTSS3bz-TXhN-P/s1600-h/IMG_9130.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaWe9Ix-eEOdoiA1dY47FgSBd2PblZi3TRDpTLUQXZGYwBE9d1Y5RTLUFlLNocTujcVuMWwVwn_G66CkM8xwSLLjKHq44F3NfdfJFLUDAwfVSDRHVQSeZn6bTSS3bz-TXhN-P/s320/IMG_9130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419133673043654386" border="0" /></a>Ahhhh...that's one more cupboard that's gotten a thorough cleaning! Feels good!<br />:-)by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749521.post-10923570498994066522009-07-11T15:14:00.002-05:002009-07-11T15:17:37.447-05:00I don't really have time to add anything today . . . just feeling bad that April was my last update! Since then, let's see ... I've been to southern California for a nice long visit (not long enough mind you, but ...), then to Cedar Falls Iowa for Katy's graduation, to Redwing MN for Katy's other graduation, to Kansas City area twice to help Katy with moving and to see her new employer's store (Palin Music ... very nice!), to Alexandria to visit my mom and two of my sisters and brother (and his family) ... and to Ames to play at the cottage there!<br /><br />In between ... I tried to 'work' and catch up on laundry and weeding in the veggie gardens!by "Gwama Linda"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01983740098798681539noreply@blogger.com0